Rating: 4 Stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from Author’s Pal and the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising".
Anita’s rapid paced storytelling style pulls readers into a parallel universe where mystery, mayhem, murder are the order of the day. Her stories are an addictive diversion, trading the heavy, gray world of real life for a fantastically colorful world where bad is good, and cool is smoking hot.Raised on America’s Rock Coast in Cleveland, Ohio, Anita was born while the river burned. Music, food and family shaped Anita’s life and provide much of the fodder for her stories. Her love of mysteries and puzzle solving came from her Grandpa John, who introduced Anita to her first detective hero – Nero Wolfe. Food was as central a character in Anita’s life as it was in Nero’s, where Sunday dinner at Nonna’s table was a command performance.
Anita has been writing scorching mysteries and suspense since 2006 with stories ranging on the heat index from a “nice spicy little pepper” to “pass a mop for my forehead, please.” Check out tastes of Anita’s stories and like her on Facebook. Anita is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America.
About the Book:
Private security entrepreneur Jeb McCormick is in over his head with his latest client. Not only is the painfully shy woman he’s meant to be protecting a total knock-out, she’s also his former Army buddy’s sister. Helping her find the reason why anyone would ransack her house is demanding enough, but keeping his hands off her is proving to be the real challenge.
Carolina Walker wants a quiet life, thank you very much. She left intrigue and deception behind in Washington D.C., never expecting it to follow her home to Bowling Green, Kentucky. When events happen that can’t be explained away, help arrives in the form of the very attractive and muscular Jebediah McCormick. But as the tension escalates between Jeb and Carolina, so does the danger facing them…
Each book in the Lost series is a standalone, full-length story that can be enjoyed out of order.
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My Thoughts:
Excerpt:
Carolina Walker has her life
changed in a blink of an eye. There’s
something that has brought her to the point where she seems to avoid
people. It’s a puzzle to solve – is she shy
or is it something else. Jebediah “Jeb”
McCormick will do anything to help a friend.
He may be a take-charge man but he’s very sweet with Carolina. He does enough to push her buttons and get
her out of her comfort zone but not enough to freak her out. This is a great way to grab the reader’s
attention – author’s good with the suspense.
I loved how the author gave our
hero an old-fashioned name. It has you
wondering if he will own it or if he’s one of those people who hate his name. I liked the fact that the author created a
brother, Nate, for Carolina. You want to
know that she’s cared about and not completely alone in the world – she gives
off a vulnerable vibe. But Nate left me
wanting to know what his story is. There
was just so much in this story that had me wanting to see where this story was
going to lead. One thing with Carolina
is that she slowly reveals herself – both to the reader and to Jeb. To me Jebediah is master of his domain and
that includes those that find themselves in that circle. He will do all that is necessary to protect
them.
It’s a book that can be read as a
stand-alone. But Jeb does have a
connection to Lost in Tennessee so at
some point you may want to go back and see what that is. Then we have the ending that still has me
wondering about Nate. If you like happy
endings then you will be happy to know that this author fulfills that for you.
Jeb bit into the succulent meat and rolled his eyes back in exaggerated ecstasy. “Mmmmm. Oh Miss Walker. This is good. This is good.”
“I am appalled you doubted me,” Carolina sniffed in mock disdain. “When I tell you something, Mr. McCormick, I expect you to accept it as fact, completely and immediately.”
“Is that so?” He liked the sass in her tone and teased her for more.
“I’m only thinking of you.” She cocked her head and gave him a wide-eyed look full of concern and honesty. “I’m saving you from having to say ‘you were right’ and hearing, of course, the much maligned ‘I told you so.’ I know how such phases can damage a man’s ego.”
“You have only my best interest at heart.”
“Well, of course. It’s clear you need someone to look after you.” Her tone, playful and haughty, ended in a sigh. “I’ll just have to be the one to take you in hand.”
“You think you’re up to the task?” How many times had he flirted over dinner knowing it was nothing but a little fun between consenting adults? This felt different. There wasn’t anything casual about Carolina.
“Absolutely.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “I have resources, my own bag of tricks.”
“Tricks. I like tricks.” Jeb reached for her. “Tell me more.”
Check out the other books in the Lost series:
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